Hotei is best known internationally for his song "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" , which has been used in numerous films, commercials, and video games, most notably Quentin Tarantino's feature film Kill Bill.
Born to a Korean father and a Japanese/Russian mother, Hotei first began playing the guitar in junior high school. In high school, his band Blue Film finished runners up in a school contest to Death Penalty, a band led by Kyosuke Himuro. Hotei was expelled shortly before graduation. The reason was that, when warned about his long hair he replied “Jesus had long hair!” Shortly after, he went to Tokyo where one day he received a phone call from Himuro. The two had never really known each other but hit it off and went on to hold auditions for a new band, which in 1981 became the six-member BOØWY. The band became major stars in Japan, in 1985 played the Marquee in London, and in 1986 had their first million seller, Beat Emotion.
When the band broke up in 1988, Hotei established himself as a solo star, as did Himuro. Hotei also made two albums with Koji Kikkawa as Complex, both of which went to number one in the national charts. Hotei frequently records overseas and has collaborated with many foreign musicians, including playing on The Stranglers Hugh Cornwell’s 1993 solo album, on stage with David Bowie at Nippon Budokan in 1996, and at the closing ceremony of the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Olympic Games with Michael Kamen.
He later recorded “Guitar Concerto” with Kamen. He has also worked with Andy Mackay of Roxy Music, guitarist Chris Spedding and Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones. Hotei also sometimes plays in Europe, including a number of major festivals. His regular drummer in recent years, Zachary Alford, has previously played with Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie. Hotei's 1998 album Supersonic Generation, recorded in part with Apollo 440 and Ofra Haza, was released in 14 European countries.
In addition to many bestselling solo albums, Hotei composed and performed the score for Hiroyuki Nakano’s Samurai Fiction, as well as starring in the film. He composed the score to Terry Gilliam’s feature film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas together with Ray Cooper. Hotei's song “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” was used in the Quentin Tarantino’s feature film Kill Bill, the PlayStation 2 version of Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA,and Michael Bay’s feature film Transformers. Hotei recorded a cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” for Merry Axemas, an instrumental guitar Christmas album featuring tracks from guitarists including Jeff Beck, Joe Perry, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai and Steve Morse.
The Nintendo DS game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan features his song "Thrill". The game's sequel, Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii, features another Hotei song, "Bambina". (Both songs are cover versions.) Hotei is featured in “Grace” on the Apocalyptica album Worlds Collide. The song is featured in the game NHL 09.
APPLES
布袋寅泰 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I Don't Think So
I Don't Think So
曲がった時間の世界へ
Let Me Go Forward
Let Me Go Forward
透明の鍵盗んで
I Don't Think So
どうせ消えちまうんだ
Let Me Go Forward
Let Me Go Forward
どうやら君は疲れてる
争う術だけを選んでる
愛を弾いてるピアノで
言葉は手放せ!
林檎の落ちる仕組みさぁ
Yeeeehaaaa!
アダムとイヴの秘密さ
Yeeeehaaaa!
曇った時代のリーダー
I Don't Think So
I Don't Think So
不安を無駄に煽ってる
Let Me Go Forward
Let Me Go Forward
運命...そこに浮かんだら
I Don't Think So
I Don't Think So
期待のスリルは無いのさ
Let Me Go Forward
Let Me Go Forward
どうかしてるぜ、あの空が
割れるほどの音にシビレてる
未来奏でてるビートに
答えを見つける
林檎の落ちる仕組みさぁ
Yeeeehaaaa!
アダムとイヴの秘密さ
Yeeeehaaaa!
誰もが"声"求めて旅を続ける
今が途切れない風は止まらない
夢は終わらない
祈ってる
空が迷いを止めて星を届ける
君は眠らないそばを離れない
このままの未来
Hello Hello Hello
I Don't Think So
I Don't Think So
Let Me Go Forward
Let Me Go Forward
I Don't Think So
I Don't Think So
Let Me Go Forward
Let Me Go Forward
どうやらオレも疲れてる
嘆くことばかりを集めてた
愛に目覚めたデタラメに
カナシミをぶつける
林檎の落ちる仕組みさぁ
Yeeeehaaaa!
アダムとイヴの秘密さ
Yeeeehaaaa!
林檎の落ちる仕組みさぁ
Yeeeehaaaa!
アダムとイヴの秘密さ
林檎の落ちる仕組みさぁ
The lyrics to 布袋寅泰's song "APPLES" convey themes of rebellion against societal rules and the desire to break free from a distorted and uncertain world. The song starts with the lines "The rules of this crazy world/I don't think so," expressing a rejection of the norms and expectations imposed by society. The singer then desires to move forward into a world of twisted time, symbolizing a desire for change and escape from the constraints of the present.
The lyrics also touch on the concept of stealing a transparent key, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for seeking freedom and accessing hidden truths. The singer suggests that the key to liberation is holding on to love and letting go of words that restrict or limit. The mention of Adam and Eve's secret alludes to the mystery and complexity of human existence and the eternal search for meaning.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the mechanism of how an apple falls, symbolizing the inevitability of certain circumstances and the cycle of life. It creates a juxtaposition between the natural order and the chaos of the world, highlighting the desire to find answers and understanding in the midst of uncertainty.
Overall, "APPLES" is a rebellious anthem that encourages listeners to challenge societal norms, seek personal liberation, and find meaning in a world filled with contradictions.
Line by Line Meaning
狂った地上のルールさ
The rules of this insane world
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in them
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in them
曲がった時間の世界へ
Into a twisted world of time
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
透明の鍵盗んで
Stealing the transparent key
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in it
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in it
どうせ消えちまうんだ
It will just disappear anyway
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
どうやら君は疲れてる
Seems like you are tired
争う術だけを選んでる
Choosing only the method of fighting
愛を弾いてるピアノで
Playing love with a piano
言葉は手放せ!
Let go of words!
林檎の落ちる仕組みさぁ
The mechanism of the apple falling
Yeeeehaaaa!
Yeeeehaaaa!
アダムとイヴの秘密さ
The secret of Adam and Eve
曇った時代のリーダー
The leaders of a clouded era
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in them
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in them
不安を無駄に煽ってる
Needlessly stirring up anxiety
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
運命...そこに浮かんだら
When fate floats there
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in it
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in it
期待のスリルは無いのさ
There is no thrill of expectation
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
どうかしてるぜ、あの空が
Something is wrong with that sky
割れるほどの音にシビレてる
Trembling to the point of breaking
未来奏でてるビートに
In the beats playing the future
答えを見つける
Find the answer
誰もが"声"求めて旅を続ける
Everyone continues their journey seeking a "voice"
今が途切れない風は止まらない
The wind that won't stop now, won't cease
夢は終わらない
Dreams don't end
祈ってる
Praying
空が迷いを止めて星を届ける
The sky stops wandering and delivers stars
君は眠らないそばを離れない
You don't sleep, you don't leave my side
このままの未来
This future as it is
Hello Hello Hello
Hello Hello Hello
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in it
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in it
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in it
I Don't Think So
I don't believe in it
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
Let Me Go Forward
Let me move forward
どうやらオレも疲れてる
Seems like I am tired too
嘆くことばかりを集めてた
Only collecting complaints
愛に目覚めたデタラメに
Awakened to love, in chaos
カナシミをぶつける
Colliding with sadness
林檎の落ちる仕組みさぁ
The mechanism of the apple falling
Yeeeehaaaa!
Yeeeehaaaa!
アダムとイヴの秘密さ
The secret of Adam and Eve
林檎の落ちる仕組みさぁ
The mechanism of the apple falling
Yeeeehaaaa!
Yeeeehaaaa!
アダムとイヴの秘密さ
The secret of Adam and Eve
林檎の落ちる仕組みさぁ
The mechanism of the apple falling
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Shigekazu Aida
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind